Prosecutors in Nassau County, New York, have laid out chilling allegations against a Long Island man, accusing him of a murder plot ripped from a villain's playbook. Asif Qureshi, 53, is charged with using a lethal chemical concoction to kill his estranged wife in her own home last October.
A Method Described as Horrific and Calculated
According to court documents and statements from the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, the attack occurred on October 17, 2025. Authorities allege that Qureshi, an unemployed software engineer, broke into the home of his 46-year-old estranged wife, Aleena Asif, while she was out taking their children to school.
He is accused of lying in wait for her return. When Asif came back to the house around 9 a.m., prosecutors say Qureshi ambushed her, forcing a rag soaked in a mixture of cyanide and sulphuric acid into her mouth. The toxic combination proved instantly devastating.
Prosecutor Calls Case One of the Most Horrifying
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly did not mince words when describing the case. "This is one of the most horrifying cases I have ever seen in my career, 36 years as a prosecutor," Donnelly told reporters. She detailed the brutal cause of death, stating the cyanide essentially "seared her lungs."
"She took a breath, and the cyanide just burns your lungs," Donnelly explained, adding that the victim also suffered sulphuric acid burns on her face. In a final cruel act, prosecutors allege Qureshi left his wife's body for their children to find later that day.
Timeline of a Tragedy and Swift Arrest
The sequence of events on the morning of October 17 paints a picture of calculated timing. The couple's 18-year-old daughter left for college around 7 a.m. Aleena Asif then left at 7:53 a.m. to drop their 14-year-old son at school. It was during this window that Qureshi allegedly entered the home.
Unaware of the danger, Asif returned after dropping off their youngest child. She was never seen alive again. Surveillance footage later captured Qureshi leaving the residence around 10:50 a.m., carrying a duffle bag to a scooter parked down the street.
When Asif failed to pick up her daughter from school that afternoon, concerned officials made calls. Police discovered Asif's body face down on her bed, with visible red facial burns around her mouth. The evidence quickly led investigators to Qureshi, who was arrested on October 23.
Legal Proceedings Begin
Asif Qureshi was arraigned on January 8, 2026, on charges of murder and burglary. A judge ordered him held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 18, 2026.
His defense lawyer, Stanley Rubin, commented briefly outside the courtroom, reminding the public of the presumption of innocence. "It's not going to be tried on the sidewalk. It's going to be tried in the courtroom, where he's presumed to be innocent by operation of law," Rubin stated.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting an extreme and terrifying instance of alleged domestic violence. The Nassau County District Attorney's office is proceeding with its prosecution, built on forensic evidence and the disturbing timeline of events that ended a mother's life.
